Cabinet



1965 N, R. KUYPERS ETAL 3,213,961

CABINET Filed May '19, 1964 INVENTORS Oswald J Muzzertc Jn BY Ned RKuypers.

AT TYS.

United States Patent 3,213,961 CABINET Ned R. Kuypers, Stanford, Calif.,and Oswald J. Mazzetta, Palatine, Ill., assignors to Motorola, Inc.,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 19, 1964, Ser. No.368,640 3 Claims. (Cl. 1'8131) This invention relates to cabinets forhousing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus.

A cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus usuallyrequires at least two spaced apart speakers for reproducing the left andright channels of the stereophonic sound. Where compactness is desired,such cabinets are often constructed so that the speaker enclosures maybe stored in a less conspicuous manner when they are not in use. One wayof accomplishing this, as depicted in Huff et al. Patent No. 3,090,462,is to mount speaker enclosures on hinges on either side of the maincabinet section so that the speaker enclosures can be folded up againstthe main cabinet section when not in use. It is desirable that thecabinet, when not in use, be of a configuration to perform a decorativefunction such as complementing the other furniture in a room. It mayalso be desirable that the grille cloth over the right and left channelspeakers, and the controls and indicator dials for the apparatus, beconcealed when not in use. A lid or doors might be used to conceal theseitems, but this adds cost and size to the cabinet.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cabinet for housingstereophonic sound reproducing apparatus which utilizes foldable sizespeaker enclosures and which presents an attractive external appearancewhen the side speaker enclosures are in either folded or unfoldedpositions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cabinet forhousing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus wherein a centercabinet section carries controls on the top thereof, and whereinfoldable side speaker en- .closures cover the top of the center cabinetsection in folded position to conceal the controls.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance withthe invention, and with the side speaker enclosures in unfoldedposition.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet of FIG. 1 with theside speaker enclosures in folded position; and,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational View with the side speaker enclosures inunfolded position,

In accordance with the invention a cabinet for housing a stereophonicradio receiver includes a center section and a pair of side speakerenclosures. The center section has a top surface with controls disposedthereon, at least a portion of which surface is inclined from thehorizontal. Each of the side speaker enclosures of the cabinet has aninclined surface ,thereon corresponding to the inclined portion of thetop surface. The side speaker enclosures are pivotally secured at theirinclined surfaces to the center section at the inclined portion of thetop surface thereof, and are pivotal from respective sides of the centersection to a closed position covering the top surface of the centersection. The inclined surfaces on the side speaker enclosures make withthe incliner portion of the top surface of the center section when theside speaker enclosures are in closed position to give the cabinet acompact, chest-like appearance.

The center section may include a front surface with a speaker openingtherein, and an indicator dial may be disposed on the inclined portionof the top surface. Controls may be recessed in a well in the topsurface. The inclined portion of the top surface, and the inclinedsurphonic radio receiver contained in the cabinet.

3,213,961 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 faces of the side speaker enclosuresmay be inclined 45 from the horizontal and vertical in order that theside speaker enclosures will be disposed vertically when unfolded andhorizontally when folded.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a cabinet constructed in accordance with theinvention is shown in an attitude adapted for stereophonic soundreproduction. The cabinet, which houses a radio receiver for stereosignals, includes a center section 11 and a pair of side speakerenclosures 13 and 14. The front surface 15 of center section 11 may becomprised of a grill cloth over a bafile with a speaker opening thereinfor a speaker reproducing the third or center channel of a three channelstereo system. Such a center channel reproduces the low frequency audiosignals of both right and left stereo channels which are non-directionaland do not contribute significantly to a stereo effect. A two channelstereo system may also be used in which instance the front surface 15might be a plain or decorated wood panel. Gripping wells 17 are disposedon the sides 18 of center section 11 to facilitate transporting of thecabinet and to enhance its appearance.

Center section 11 further includes a top surface 25 having a well 26 inwhich are disposed a plurality of controls 27 for the radio receiver.Top surface 25 has an inclined portion 29 rearwardly of front surface15. Inclined portion 29 of top surface 25 has an indicator dial 31 forconveniently indicating the tuning of the stereo Inclined portion 29 oftop surface 25 terminates in a rail 33. By

placing the controls and diols on the top, as described,

'45 and 46, respectively, disposed upwardly of front surfaces 43 and 44.Hinges 55 pivotally connect the side enclosures 13 and 14, at theinclined surfaces thereof, to the center section 11 at the inclinedportion 29 of top surface 25.

It is desirable for compactness, when the apparatus is not in use, thatside enclosures 13 and 14 be foldable against center section 11 topresent a compact outward appearance. point it is desirable that thecontrols 27 and dial 31 in top surface 25 of center section 11, and thatthe grill cloth on front surfaces 43 and 44 of side enclosures 13 and14, be concealed when the apparatus is not in use. These items areconcealed at the same time the side speaker enclosures 13 and 14 arefolded against center section 11. This is because the side speakerenclosures are joined to the center section at the correspondinginclined surfaces and as a result are pivotal on hinges 55 to theposition shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As may be seen from the drawings, whenside enclosures 13 and 14 are in folded position, the unit presents theappearance of a chest of compact box-like configuration. If the front ofthe center enclosure is not utilized as a speaker, it may be made asolid panel so that when the side enclosures are folded the cabinet willappear as a solid chest. Decorative trim may be placed on the exteriorof the cabinet in Furthermore, from the appearance stand- I on tile siueenclosure antl are electrically connected H16 speaker. The Huff et al.patent, cited above, shows such a hinge construction. When the hingesare separated, the speaker would be electrically connected to the radioreceiver through cables and connector plugs (not shown) in the back ofthe unit.

It will therefore be seen that the invention provides a cabinet forhousing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus wherein the speakersfor left and right channels are contained in enclosures which fold outon either side from the top of a center cabinet section. The cabinetpresents an attractive appearance in both folded and unfolded condition,a-nd when in folded condition, the side enclosures may conceal a dialand controls on the top of the center section.

We claim:

1. A cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus andadapted to be altered from a closed condition to an open condition withside speaker enclosures spaced for stereophonic sound reproduction, saidcabinet including in combination, a center section having a top surfacewith control means disposed thereon, at least a portion of said topsurface being inclined from the horizontal to be readily visible fromboth forwardly and upwardly of said cabinet in open condition, a pair ofside speaker enclosures disposed in open condition on either side ofsaid center section, each of said side speaker enclosures having aninclined surface thereon corresponding to said inclined portion of saidtop surface, means pivotally securing each of said side speakerenclosures at an edge of said inclined surface thereof to said centersection at an edge of said inclined portion of said top surface, saidinclined surfaces of said side speaker enclosures and said inclinedportion of said top surface being substantially coplanar when saidcabinet is in the open condition, said side speaker enclosures beingpivotal about an inclined axis from respective sides of said centersection to a closed position covering said top surface of said centersection to conceal said control means thereon, said inclined surfacesmating with said inclined portion of said top surface when said sidespeaker enclosures are in closed position to give said cabinet a compactconfiguration.

2. A cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus andadapted to be altered from a closed condition to an open condition withside speaker enclosures spaced for stereophonic sound reproduction, saidcabinet including in combination, a center section having a top surfaceat least a portion of which is inclined subcabinet a chest-likeconnguratron.

3. A cabinet for housing stereophonic radio apparatus and adapted to bealtered from a closed condition to an open condition with side speakerenclosures spaced for stereophonic sound reproduction, said cabinetincluding in combination, a center section having a top surface withcontrol means thereon and a front surface for providing a speakerbaffle, said top surface having a portion with a dial therein andinclined substantially 45 from the horizontal and disposed rearwardly ofsaid front surface of said center section to render said dial visiblefrom forwardly and upwardly of said cabinet in the open condition, apair of side speaker enclosures disposed in the open condition on eitherside of said center section, each of said side speaker enclosures havinga vertically disposed front surface in the open condition for providinga speaker baflie and having a surface upwardly of said front surfaceinclined substantially 45 from the horizontal and corresponding to saidinclined portion of said top surface, and hinge means pivotallyconnecting each of said side speaker enclosures at an edge of saidinclined surface thereof to said center section at an edge of saidinclined portion of said top surface thereof, said inclined surfaces ofsaid side speaker enclosures and said inclined portion of said topsurface being substantially coplanar when said cabinet is in the opencondition, with said front surfaces of said side speaker enclosuresdisposed below the level of said top surface of-center section, saidside speaker enclosures being pivotal about an inclined axis fromrespective sides of said center section to a closed position adjacenteach other covering said top surface of said center section andconcealing said control means and said dial, with said inclined surfaceson said side speaker enclosure-s mating with said inclined portion ofsaid top surface and with said front surface of said side speakerenclosures mating with the remainder of said top surface to give saidcabinet a chest-like configuration.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,090,462 5/63Huff et a1 18131 FOREIGN PATENTS 909,299 12/45 France. 871,574 6/61Great Britain.

'70 LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

1. A CABINET FOR HOUSING STEREOPHONIC SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS ANDADAPTED TO BE ALTERED FROM A CLOSED CONDITION TO AN OPEN CONDITION WITHSIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES SPACED FOR STEREOPHONIC SOUND REPRODUCTION, SAIDCABINET INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, A CENTER SECTION HAVING A TOP SURFACEWITH CONTROL MEANS DISPOSED THEREON, AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID TOPSURFACE BEING INCLINED FROMTHE HORIZONTAL TO BE READILY VISIBLE FROMBOTH FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY OF SAID CABINET IN OPEN CONDITION, A PAIR OFSIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES DISPOSED IN OPEN CONDITION ON EITHER SIDE OFSAID CENTER SECTION, EACH OF SAID SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES HAVING ANINCLUINED SURFACE THEREON CORRESPONDING TO SAID INCLINED PORTION OF SAIDTOP SURFACE, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING EACH OF SAID SIDE SPEAKERENCLOSURES AT AN EDGE OF SAID INCLINED SURFACE THEREOF TO SAID CENTERSECTION AT AN EDGE OF SAID INCLINED PORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE SAIDINCLINED SURFACE OF SAID SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES AND SAID INCLINEDPORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WHEN SAIDCABINET IS IN THE OPEN CONDITION, SAID SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES BEINGPIVOTAL ABOUT AN INCLINED AXIS FROM RESPECTIVE SIDES OF SAID CENTERSECTION TO A CLOSED POSITION COVERING SAID TOP SURFACE OF SAID CENTERSECTION TO CONCEAL SAID CONTROL MEANS THEREON, SAID INCLINED SURFACESMATING WITH SAID INCLINED PORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE WHEN SAID SIDESPEAKER ENCLOSURES ARE IN CLOSED POSITION TO GIVE SAID CABINET A COMPACTCONFIGURATION.